Automatic container filling machine



Jan. 11, 1955" G. J; OK'ULITCH 'ET A1."

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 2 Sheeis-Sh'et 1 Filed July 6, 1950INVEN TORQ rcr/ /GOR ZozULm TMlNsoN A TO RNEY Gsomsd. Om)

AND LYLE/Q, A BY 1955 a. J. OKULITCH. ETAL 2,699,283

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed July 6', 1950 9 N Sheets Sheet2 i n 3 0 0 Q v E W I Q Q m Gsokcs J. UN IGOR'ZozuuN United StatesPatent p AUTOMATIC CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE George Joseph Okulitch,Igor Zozulin, and Lyle A. Atkinson, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaApplication July 6, 1950, Serial No. 172,218 Claims priority,application Canada April 25, 1950 3 Claims. (Cl. 226-99) This inventionpertains to an apparatus for the filling of containers and, inparticular, containers having a widemouthed opening wherein theoperations of the machine are entirely automatic.

Modern merchandising technique is built around the sale of a packagedarticle. The advantages to be derived from the use of packaged articlesin comparison with bulk or unpackaged articles are too many and tooobvious to need enumeration. Packaging is, however, an expensive itemand consequently the art has been directed to the production ofequipment to perform the various operations in an automatic and speedymanner.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a machine adapted tofill containers having an opening of appreciable size in an automaticand continuous manner and requiring the minimum of supervision byoperating personnel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine adapted tofill containers having a range of predetermined capacities andregardless of the sequential presentation of such containers to themachine.

The machine of the present'invention is adapted for use with mostconventional marketable liquids and is constructed in such a manner thatit may be readily cleaned and operated in a sanitary manner if sorequired. Furthermore, the apparatus of this invention is provided withsafety features to prevent the loss of liquid, the delivery of anexcessive amount of liquid to a container and the premature discharge ofliquid when there is not a container available to receive suchdischarge.

The desirable objects enumerated above are achieved in the machine ofthe present invention which consists essentially of a liquid-holdingsupply tank adapted to deliver a predetermined guantity of liquid to thecontainer to be filled. The liquid is delivered to the container througha movable nozzle which is adapted to be automatically inserted into thecontainer and removed in the same manner when the container is filled.Conveying means are provided for delivering empty containers to thefilling location and for removing the filled containers. Interlockingand control means are provided to initiate and terminate each cycle ofoperation without requiring human attention. Thus an incoming emptycontainer is automatically stopped at a point where the delivery spoutmay enter the container and when stopped, then initiates the mechanismwhich inserts the spout into the container and simultaneously opens avalve in the supply tank permitting the appropriate quantity of liquidto be delivered to the container. Other control means are initiated whenthe proper quantity has been delivered to remove the spout from thecontainer, release the filled container and to refill the supply tankfrom a reverse supply of liquid.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation view;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating particularly the conveyormechanism; and

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of the electrical cir- Quit.

The invention will now be described in detail with particular referenceto a container of volumetric capacity of l, 2 and 3 gallonsrespectively. It should be understood, however, that these capacitiesare only illustrative and that the apparatus could be adapted to fillcontainers of other sizes by a simple adjustment which would come withinthe skill of an ordinary mechanic.

The term liquid as used throughout this specification 2,699,283 PatentedJan. 11, 1955 ICC such fluids should not be considered as rendering theinvention inoperative.

A general structural framework A 1s provided upon which the elements ofthe machine are disposed. This framework may be constructed of suitablematerial providing that the individual elements are properlyfunctionally supported although they need not necessarily be arranged inthe manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The containers to be filled shown generally at 10 in Figure 1 are movedto the filling location by a suitable conveyor 11 such as the drivenroller type shown in Figure 2. An electric motor or other source ofpower 12 provides energy to drive the conveyor 11. In the arrangementshown in Figure 2 a chain-drive arrangement 13 takes energy from asuitable gear mounted on a shaft of the motor 12 and suitable mechanicalconnections, not shown, drive the conveyor 11. It is within the scope ofthis invention to use any other suitable type of drive mechanism andconveyor arrangement as the particular arrangement illustrated is notessential to the operation of the present invention. It is advisablethat the conveyor selected will be one capable of consant operation, inorder that the empty containers may be constantly delivered to thefilling apparatus and removed as soon as released by the fillingapparatus, without necessitating separate controls to start and stop theconveyor.

When the empty containers 10 arrive at the filling area generallydesignated at B, they are stopped by a pair of pawls 14 arranged on eachside of the conveyor. The pawls consist of arcuate arms pivotallymounted on the framework A, and are activated by electromagnets 15 and16 arranged on each side of the conveyor. When the cans are filled,suitable control elements, which will be described in greater detaillater, actuate the electromagnets to pull the pawls in an outwarddirection and permit the conveyor to carry the filled cans past thefilling point B and to bring an empty can to the filling position. Theelectromagnets 15 and 16 operate locking devices in the form of linearelements 17 which hold the pawls in a closed position. Tension springs18 tend to pull the pawls to a closed position when the electromagnetsare de-energized. The tension springs 18 are secured to the pawls 14 andto the frame A as shown in Figure 2.

An empty can arriving at the filling point B and stopped as describedabove, operates a pressure-sensitive electric switch such as amicroswitch, shown at 19 in Figure l. The switch 19 is closed from itsnormal open position and energizes an electromagnet 20 which in turnactivates a half-revolution clutch 21 which is adapted for operativeengagement with the motor 12. Mechanical energy is now transmitted fromthe motor 12 through the clutch 21, shaft 22 to a crank 23 causinglinear motion of connecting rod 24 and lever 25 which is pivotallymounted on the shaft 26 extending from the frame A and causes the spout27 to swing in an arcuate manner in and out of the containers 10. In thenon-filling position the position of the spout 27 is illustrated by thedotted lines in Figure l and when actuated by the contact of the emptycontainer on the microswitch 19, it swings downwardly into the emptycontainer.

This operation will not take place unless the pawls 14 are in a positionto stop the empty container in the filling station B and the liquidsupply tank 28 is filled.

Providing that the above conditions have been met the spout 27 swingsdownwardly into a filling position Located along the wall 31 of thefilling station are several pressure-sensitive switches which determinethe amount of liquid which will enter a particular container and, inaction, are controlled and operated by containers of respective sizes.The microswitch 32 is activated by a can having a volume of threegallons and the microswitch 33 is activated by a can of a two galloncapacity. Both of these switches are of a two-way type and both controlmercury switches actuated by a float in the supply tank 28 to permit thecorrect volume of liquid to flow from the tank. A container ofone-gallon capacity will actuate microswitch 19 which is also, ofcourse, actuated by all sizes of container to cause the spoutarrangement to enter the can. As stated, microswitch 19 also functionsto permit one gallon of liquid to flow into a can of that capacity.

When the spout 27 reaches its lowest position inside the container itactivates the microswitch 34 by means of a finger mounted on the shaft26. Also located at the same point is the microswitch 35 and operated ina similar manner which acts as soon as the spout 27 starts on itsdownward path to de-energize electromagnets and the half-revolutionclutch 21, otherwise the clutch would cause the nozzle to rise from itsfilling position to the non-filling position. The microswitch 34 isnormally open and when closed activates electromagnet 36 which, by meansof mechanical linkage 37, opens a valve 38 in the bottom of the tank 28and permits liquid to flow downwardly through the spout into thecontainer.

When the required amount of liquid has been delivered from the tank 28depending upon the activation of microswitch 19, 32 or 33, dependingupon the size of the container to be filled, the float 39 which issupported on the arm 40 and the shaft 41 causes one or more mercuryswitches or precision sensitive switches to open and deenergize theelectromagnet 36 thus closing the valve 38.

The closing of the valve 38 when the required amount of liquid has flownfrom the tank 28 causes pressuresensitive switch 42 to be closed bycontact with the linkage 37. When the switch 42 is in the open position,that is when the electromagnet 36 opens, the valve 38 and the circuit tothe electromagnet is, of course, open.

The closing of the valve 38 and the switch 42 causes the electromagnet20 to, again, become activated providing that the nozzle 27 is at itslowest position and to raise the spout 27 from the filled container.When the spout 27 is at its lowest point the microswitch 43, which isactivated by a finger on the shaft 26 is closed and the half-revolutionclutch 21 engaged, causing the nozzle to start on its upward path.However, as soon as the nozzle leaves its lowest position the switch 43is opened, thus preventing the clutch from making a complete revolution.The further upward movement of nozzle 27 closes microswitch 44 andenergizes the electromagnets 15 and 16 and causes the locking mechanism17 to be released. The pressure of the empty containers and the movementof the conveyor 11 will then cause the filled container to pass beyondthe filling point B. The electromagnets 15 and 16 are energized by theupward movement of the spout 27 through the closing of the normally openmicroswitch 44 which is in itself closed by a finger on the shaft 26.The finger on the shaft 26 contacts the plunger on the microswitch 44only for a brief period of time in the arcuate movement of the spout 27.Thus the electromagnets 15 and 16 are only energized for a brief periodof time. When the pawls 14 are in the open position pressure-sensitiveswitch 59 which is normally closed, is opened preventing movement of thenozzle.

As previously stated, the amount of liquid which will flow from the tank28 when the valve 38 is open is dependent upon the size of the containerin the filling position B and the functioning of variousposition-sensitive switches associated with the shaft 41. Theposition-sensitive switches which may be of the liquid displacement typeand employing mercury are physically located in a box or container 45mounted near the top of the tank 28. Switches 25, 46 and 47 control thevolume of liquid delivered from the tank 28 and are normally in a closedposition, but as the float 39 sinks and the shaft 41 is rotated by thearm 40 these switches function in sequence to open the respectivecircuits and thus cause the valve 38 to close.

As the volume of liquid in the tank 28 has now been depleted it isnecessary to refill the tank from the reserve supply tank 49 which isconnected to a source of liquidand is maintained at a constant level. Assoon as the nozzle 27 leaves its lowest position within the container amicroswitch 50 also activated by a finger on the shaft 26 closes and asthe pressure-sensitive switch 42 and the position-sensitive switch 51mounted on the arm 41 are, at this moment, both closed, theelectromagnet 52 is energized and opens a valve 53 in the bottom of tank49. The opening of the valve 53 permits liquid to flow from the tank 49through the pipe or conduit 54 into the tank 28 until the float 39reaches its uppermost position at which point it activatesposition-sensitive switch 51 secured to the shaft 41 and opens thisswitch and de-energizes electromagnet 52. The electromagnet 52 iscoupled to the valve 53 by suitable linkage designated generally at 55.

The constant level tank 49 is filled by means of a pipe 56 from a sourceof supply of the liquid through a float 57 which actuates a valve 58when the float reaches its uppermost point and closes off the supply ofliquid entering through the pipe 56.

The valves 38, 53 and 58 have not been described in detail as anysuitable valve structure which will accomplish the desired function maybe used.

Referring now to Figure 3 it will be seen that an electric motor 12 isconnected by conductors 100, 101 to a source of power 102 which iscontrolled by the doublepole single throw switch 60. Connected inparallel with the motor 12, by means of conductors 103, 104 is a pilotlight 66a which signifies when the motor is in operation. A single-polesingle throw switch 65 is in series with the motor to manually controlthis particular circuit. The electro-magnets 15 and 16 are connected toconductor by wires 105, 106 and are joined by wire 107 to microswitch 44which is connected to conductor 101 by conductor 108. Thus, closing ofswitch 44 actuates electromagnets 15 and 16 to close the pawls 14. Thepilot lamp 66b is in parallel with the electro-magnets to indicate bythe lighting of the lamp that the electromagnets are in operation.Switch 64 is inserted between conductors 107 and 101, along conductor109 to manually control the circuit. The switch 19 is connected byconductor 110 to conductor 101 and is connected in series with switch 34through switches 33, 47 and 63 by conductor 111. Switch 33 is alsoconnected to switch 32 which is in series with switch 45 by means ofconductor 112. Switches 45, 46, ,47 are in parallel between conductors111 and 112. Conductor 111 is also connected to electromagnet 36 byconductor 113 which is by-passed by pilot light 660 along conductor 114.Switch 19 is also connected in series with switch 35, 59 and 48 andmanual switch 62 along conductor 115, 116, 117 and 118 respectively.Manual switch 62 is inserted to give the operator positive control ofthe circuit. Conductor 118 leads also to electromagnet 20 which again isby-passed by pilot light 66d on conductor 119. Conductor 120, switch 51,conductor 121, switch 42, conductor 122, switch 50, electromagnet 52 andconductor 123 are in series and in parallel with the motor 12 andconductors 101 and 100. Pilot lamp 66e by-passes electro-magnet 52 alongconductor 124. Switch 43 is connected by conductors 125 and 126 toswitch 48. Manually actuated switch 61 is along conductor 127 betweenconductor 101 and conductor 124.

The half-revolution clutch 21 may be of any suitable construction.

We claim:

1. An automatic container filling machine comprising in combination aconveyor adapted to deliver empty containers and to remove filledcontainers, gates to restrain said containers in filling position,switches actuated by an empty container to energize an electric motor tocause a filling spout pivotally mounted separately from a supply tank tobe inserted within the empty container, a further switch controlled bythe empty container and the filling spout to energize an electro magnetwhich operates a valve to cause a quantity of liquid to flow from saidsupply tank to the empty container, a switch controlled by the removalof liquid from the tank to cause the flow of liquid to be stopped, thefilling nozzle to be removed from the filled container and the containerrestraining gates to be released and a new sequence of operationsinitiated by the removal of the filled container and the activation ofthe apparatus by a new empty container.

2. An automatic container filling machine as claimed in claim 1 in whichthe switches actuated by the empty containers to cause the spout toenter the container are placed vertically one above the other so that acontainer equal to the height of the lowest switch actuates said lowestswitch to cause a predetermined quantity of liquid to flow, a containerequal to the height of next higher switch actuates said next higherswitch and a container equal to the height of the highest switchactuates said highest switch, the size of the containers beingproportional to their height and means actuated by each switch to causethe delivery of an amount of liquid equal to the capacity of thecontainer which actuated the switch.

3. An automatic container filling machine comprising in combination aconveyor adopted to deliver empty containers and to remove filledcontainers, gates to restrain said containers in filling position, a setof switches set vertically one above the other beside the conveyor to beacutated by the arrival of an empty container the lowest switch beingactuated by each container arriving at the machine and energizing anelectric motor to cause a filling spout pivotally mounted separatelyfrom a supply tank to be inserted in an empty container, a furtherswitch actuated by the filling spout and the empty container to energizean electromagnet which operates a valve to cause a quantity of liquid toflow from the supply tank to the empty container, the quantity of liquidallowed to flow being governed by which of the three vertically placedswitches is actuated by the top of the container, the volume of thecontainer being in proportion to its height so that a tall containerwill receive the largest volume of liquid, a switch controlled by afloat which measures the volume of liquid delivered, to cause the flowof liquid to be stopped, the filling spout to be removed from the filledcontainer and the container restraining gates released and a newsequence of operations initiated by the removal of the filled containerand the arrival of a new empty container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,284,310 Gilbert Nov. 12, 1918 1,673,305 Yount et a1. June 12, 19282,276,157 Chapman Mar. 10, 1942 2,517,107 Hessert Aug. 1, 1950

